Comparative analysis of the nutritional and bioactive composition of Gastrodia elata from different varieties and origins

As a traditional Chinese medicinal material, the medicinal value of Gastrodia elata Bl. (GE) has been widely recognized. In 2023, GE was officially included in the list of homologous substances in medicine and food. With the popularity of GE as a food, there is a strong interest in its nutritional content, but there are few systematic and rigorous studies, leaving a critical research gap. In this study, a total of 22 batches of GE samples from different varieties and origins were selected，the nutritional and bioactive components were determined and analyzed, aiming to reveal the nutritional value and medicinal properties of GE. The results showed that GE was rich in a variety of nutrients, including protein, fat, starch, crude fiber, total saponins, water, polysaccharides, with the total mass accounting for as high as 97.9%. The contents of six bioactive components, namely gastrodin, parishin A, parishin B, parishin C, parishin E, p -hydroxybenzyl alcohol were determined, and there were significant differences in the chemical components of GE among different varieties and origins, which provided a reference for further evaluation of the quality of GE. GE has high nutritional value, and the development direction may be developed into meal replacement products or functional foods rich in polysaccharides. • Covered 22 GE batches including rare Blood-red and hybrid varieties. • Key components (starch/polysaccharides/water) make up 88.7% of GE mass. • Proposed GE applications: meal-replacement staples or polysaccharide-rich functional foods. • Significant chemical variation across varieties/origins aids GE quality evaluation.